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〃You； Phil； as all Redmond knows； entertain callers almost every
evening。 Now； at Patty's Place we can't do that。 We have decided
that we shall be at home to our friends on Friday evenings only。
If you come with us you'll have to abide by that rule。〃
〃Well； you don't think I'll mind that； do you？ Why； I'm glad of it。
I knew I should have had some such rule myself； but I hadn't
enough decision to make it or stick to it。 When I can shuffle
off the responsibility on you it will be a real relief。 If you
won't let me cast in my lot with you I'll die of the disappointment
and then I'll come back and haunt you。 I'll camp on the very doorstep
of Patty's Place and you won't be able to go out or come in without
falling over my spook。〃
Again Anne and Priscilla exchanged eloquent looks。
〃Well；〃 said Anne； 〃of course we can't promise to take you until
we've consulted with Stella； but I don't think she'll object；
and； as far as we are concerned； you may come and glad welcome。〃
〃If you get tired of our simple life you can leave us； and no
questions asked；〃 added Priscilla。
Phil sprang up； hugged them both jubilantly； and went on her way
rejoicing。
〃I hope things will go right；〃 said Priscilla soberly。
〃We must MAKE them go right；〃 avowed Anne。 〃I think Phil will
fit into our 'appy little 'ome very well。〃
〃Oh； Phil's a dear to rattle round with and be chums。 And； of course；
the more there are of us the easier it will be on our slim purses。
But how will she be to live with？ You have to summer and winter with
any one before you know if she's LIVABLE or not。〃
〃Oh； well； we'll all be put to the test； as far as that goes。
And we must quit us like sensible folk； living and let live。
Phil isn't selfish； though she's a little thoughtless； and I
believe we will all get on beautifully in Patty's Place。〃
Chapter XI
The Round of Life
Anne was back in Avonlea with the luster of the Thorburn Scholarship
on her brow。 People told her she hadn't changed much； in a tone
which hinted they were surprised and a little disappointed she hadn't。
Avonlea had not changed； either。 At least； so it seemed at first。
But as Anne sat in the Green Gables pew； on the first Sunday after
her return； and looked over the congregation； she saw several little
changes which； all coming home to her at once； made her realize that
time did not quite stand still； even in Avonlea。 A new minister was in
the pulpit。 In the pews more than one familiar face was missing forever。
Old 〃Uncle Abe；〃 his prophesying over and done with； Mrs。 Peter Sloane；
who had sighed； it was to be hoped； for the last time； Timothy Cotton；
who； as Mrs。 Rachel Lynde said 〃had actually managed to die at last
after practicing at it for twenty years；〃 and old Josiah Sloane； whom
nobody knew in his coffin because he had his whiskers neatly trimmed；
were all sleeping in the little graveyard behind the church。 And Billy
Andrews was married to Nettie Blewett！ They 〃appeared out〃 that Sunday。
When Billy； beaming with pride and happiness； showed his be…plumed and
be…silked bride into the Harmon Andrews' pew； Anne dropped her lids to
hide her dancing eyes。 She recalled the stormy winter night of the
Christmas holidays when Jane had proposed for Billy。 He certainly
had not broken his heart over his rejection。 Anne wondered if Jane
had also proposed to Nettie for him； or if he had mustered enough
spunk to ask the fateful question himself。 All the Andrews family
seemed to share in his pride and pleasure； from Mrs。 Harmon in the
pew to Jane in the choir。 Jane had resigned from the Avonlea school
and intended to go West in the fall。
〃Can't get a beau in Avonlea； that's what；〃 said Mrs。 Rachel Lynde
scornfully。 〃SAYS she thinks she'll have better health out West。
I never heard her health was poor before。〃
〃Jane is a nice girl；〃 Anne had said loyally。 〃She never tried
to attract attention； as some did。〃
〃Oh； she never chased the boys； if that's what you mean；〃 said
Mrs。 Rachel。 〃But she'd like to be married； just as much as
anybody； that's what。 What else would take her out West to some
forsaken place whose only recommendation is that men are plenty
and women scarce？ Don't you tell me！〃
But it was not at Jane； Anne gazed that day in dismay and surprise。
It was at Ruby Gillis； who sat beside her in the choir。 What had
happened to Ruby？ She was even handsomer than ever； but her blue
eyes were too bright and lustrous； and the color of her cheeks was
hectically brilliant； besides； she was very thin； the hands that
held her hymn…book were almost transparent in their delicacy。
〃Is Ruby Gillis ill？〃 Anne asked of Mrs。 Lynde； as they went
home from church。
〃Ruby Gillis is dying of galloping consumption；〃 said Mrs。 Lynde
bluntly。 〃Everybody knows it except herself and her FAMILY。
They won't give in。 If you ask THEM； she's perfectly well。
She hasn't been able to teach since she had that attack of
congestion in the winter； but she says she's going to teach
again in the fall； and she's after the White Sands school。
She'll be in her grave； poor girl； when White Sands school opens；
that's what。〃
Anne listened in shocked silence。 Ruby Gillis； her old school…chum；
dying？ Could it be possible？ Of late years they had grown apart；
but the old tie of school…girl intimacy was there； and made itself
felt sharply in the tug the news gave at Anne's heartstrings。
Ruby； the brilliant； the merry； the coquettish！ It was impossible
to associate the thought of her with anything like death。 She had
greeted Anne with gay cordiality after church； and urged her to
come up the next evening。
〃I'll be away Tuesday and Wednesday evenings；〃 she had whispered
triumphantly。 〃There's a concert at Carmody and a party at White
Sands。 Herb Spencer's going to take me。 He's my LATEST。 Be sure
to come up tomorrow。 I'm dying for a good talk with you。 I want
to hear all about your doings at Redmond。〃
Anne knew that Ruby meant that she wanted to tell Anne all about
her own recent flirtations； but she promised to go； and Diana
offered to go with her。
〃I've been wanting to go to see Ruby for a long while；〃 she told Anne；
when they left Green Gables the next evening； 〃but I really couldn't
go alone。 It's so awful to hear Ruby rattling on as she does； and
pretending there is nothing the matter with her； even when she can
hardly speak for coughing。 She's fighting so hard for her life；
and yet she hasn't any chance at all； they say。〃
The girls walked silently down the red； twilit road。 The robins
were singing vespers in the high treetops； filling the golden air
with their jubilant voices。 The silver fluting of the frogs came
from marshes and ponds； over fields where seeds were beginning to
stir with life and thrill to the sunshine and rain that had
drifted over them。 The air was fragrant with the wild； sweet；